Impactful REACHtalks and REACH Deep breakout sessions took place on Thursday during the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH 2022 conference in Palm Desert, CA, challenging credit union leaders to try something NEW at their organizations.

(View/download conference and event photos from the REACH 2022 Photo Gallery)

Credit union leaders gained new insights in operations, innovation, new technologies, and thinking differently as they continue to serve their members going into late 2022 and 2023:

‘REACH Deep’ Sessions
Bundles of educational opportunities were in reach for attendees during REACH Deep breakout sessions, social impact sessions, and other discussions on noteworthy and relevant topics for today’s modern credit union leader:

• Reaching Beyond Recession — Members and the Economic Outlook: With continued inflation and rising interest rates, are we ready for another downturn and can another recession really be avoided? Eyler will provide a view on labor, housing and financial markets to help better understand local economies in 2023 to 2025.
• Embed or be Embedded — Can Credit Union System as a Service Transform our Approach to Embedded Finance?: Buying and Borrowing are converging. Consumers want buying experiences that is fast, easy, and simple. Those experiences include embedded finance options that steer buyers to the credit option most preferred by the retailer. Is your credit union prepared?
• Community Development Credit Unions — Approach and Practices to Financial Inclusion: Community development credit unions focused on financial inclusion can disrupt the marketplace through non-traditional real estate and green lending, deepening their impact and creating generational housing equity. Join Inclusiv experts as they share proven strategies and key success factors to effectively serve this emerging opportunity.
• No Lead Left Behind: Whether leads are generated through marketing campaigns or opportunities walking into a branch every day, credit unions are missing out on millions of dollars of loan production by not having a proper sales and service infrastructure woven into the organization’s culture. Gain an understand how focusing on increasing sales and providing a great Member Experience do not have to be mutually exclusive.
• Data Isn't the Problem — Activating It Is: Credit unions have robust amounts of data, so the challenge is not data acquisition but rather data activation. It’s time to demystify big data and learn from your peers the pitfalls and advantages of launching an enterprise data effort. This case-study style format will provide real data use cases as well as considerations on how to get the most from your enterprise data.
• Say Yes to More Members — More Approvals in Less Time with Automation: Recent innovations in data and technology aren’t about the model or the software, they are about saying yes to more members and improving the experience for both members and employees alike. In this interactive session, hear real-life strategies used by lenders to increase approvals while decreasing risk and come away with ways your credit union can leverage automation to fuel sustainable, inclusive growth.
• Haunted Overhead and the Hybrid Workplace: Is your Board shifting their focus from virtual spaces to your physical places? With staffing, members and overhead on your mind, are you having trouble explaining your evolving workplace strategy? Get answers to the top 5 questions Boards are asking about CU locations, reaching new members, staff retention and whether it makes sense to reconsider owning vs leasing scenarios, from HQs to branches.
• What Board Volunteers Need to Know about GRC: A strong governance, risk and compliance framework is critical to a credit unions future growth. Learn about best practices for establishing a GRC structure for long-term sustainability. Understand NCUA guidance and expectations to take back to the next board discussion.
• Serving the Underserved — Relationship-Based Lending for Financial Inclusion: When life happens, financial access is key. Do you know where your members turn for cash when there’s more month than money or unexpected expenses arise? It should be your credit union, not a payday lender. During this session, we’ll discuss the important role credit unions play in protecting their members’ financial futures, driving financial inclusion, and improving the well-being of underserved communities.
  
  

‘REACHtalks’Sessions
REACHtalks were high-impact, straight-to-the-point, 10-minute discussions:

• REACH for Your Members — How to Attract, Engage, and Retain Members: ORIGENCE
• Loan Pricing 101 — What Not to Do as Rates Rise: ALM First
• Strategies for Growing Loans and Members in Uncertain Times: Upstart
• AI and Fair Lending — This Changes Everything: Zest AI
• Putting the Member at the Helm of Their Own Experience: Coconut Software
• How to Use Your Credit Card Program to Win Against 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL): Fiserv
• Boarding the Bullet Train for Faster Payments: Catalyst Corporate FCU
• The Battle Against Fraud in an Evolving Digital World: PSCU
• Integrated Solutions to Help Achieve Digital Maturity: Co-op Solutions
• The Metaverse — A Member Experience Destination: PSCU
• Mitigating the Effects of the Great Reshuffle: Gallagher Executive Benefits
  
  

Stay Engaged During REACH
Attendees and League staff will be sharing photos, comments and memories through Twitter (@CUatREACH), LinkedIn (#CUatREACH), and the REACH 2022 Photo Gallery. 

REACH is one of the credit union industry’s premier annual events, attracting leaders and system partners from across California, Nevada and the United States. This year it’s held from Nov. 1 – 4 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, CA!

Tweet